1944
Armament project inside the mountain
A vast underground complex for wartime aircraft production was created at great speed inside the Walpersberg.
Experience History
Walpersberg and REIMAHG
At the foothills of the Walpersberg near Kahla, the Nazi regime built one of the largest underground armament complexes of the Second World War. Thousands of forced laborers were compelled to dig tunnels, erect bunkers, and produce the Messerschmitt Me 262.As the History and Research Association Walpersberg e.V. we uncover this hidden past – on these pages and through guided tours across the former military site.
Walpersberg at a glance
What is the Walpersberg?
In 1944/45 the Walpersberg near Kahla became the site of one of the largest underground armament projects of the Nazi regime. Tunnels, bunkers and production zones were intended to secure the manufacture of the Messerschmitt Me 262. The site therefore stands for Nazi armament production, forced labour, the end of the war and later remembrance.
Underground armament complexForced labour and campsPlace of research and remembrance
1944–1945
Built through forced labour
Thousands of people were deployed under violence and in inhumane conditions for construction, logistics and production.
Since 1945
From military site to place of remembrance
Today the Walpersberg stands for historical research, public history work and the recovery of individual fates.
Discover history digitally
Understand Walpersberg
Texts, images, maps and 3D models explain what happened at Walpersberg – and who the people forced to work here were.
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History & documentation
What happened at Walpersberg
Texts, photographs, maps and sources explain the history of REIMAHG and Walpersberg step by step.
Discover the history
3D02
Camps in 3D
Explore the camps in space
All main camps are now available as interactive 3D reconstructions – including terrain, barracks, paths and historical vegetation.
View camps and 3D models
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People & biographies
Who the forced labourers were
Names, places of origin, camps and portraits tell the stories of individuals and their fates.
Search for peopleDiscover history
Research tools, databases and historical pathways
Below the tour section, the website opens into its deeper layer: databases, maps, portraits and thematic entry points make the history directly explorable.
Forced labour database
Biographies, camps, origins and individual fates
The database combines person search, camp relations, places of origin, statistics and portraits into a dense picture of forced labour at Walpersberg.
7.470 persons
29 camps
1.204 documented victims
Portraits and life stories
Walpersberg / code name Lachs
Walpersberg in the network of underground sites
The database documents underground sites broadly while placing the Walpersberg, code name Lachs, at the centre. This makes connections, involved companies, and links between sites visible.
Walpersberg focus
It covers the underground sites as a whole and shows the specific role Walpersberg Lachs played within this network.
828 network sites
764 linked places
668 companies
23 Me 262 departures
Network by region
Baden-Württemberg91
Bayern80
Nordrhein-Westfalen78
From the association
Projects, updates and press in compact form
Association work, current notices and media coverage remain visible, but as a compact complement to the historical core content.
Current project
About the associationNews & Press
View all newsPress coverage
View all media mentionsPublications
Publications of the association
Also: tour vouchers and further material.
3 books (hardcover)2 yearbooks (softcover)Maps & postcards
Selected titles